Spring Thunder Came
When people in Zhang Village and Wang Village were watching the lion dance gladly together, Sanshui County Town was much more bustling .
State Secretary Chen Yong, who suffered from headaches, was awakened by the noisy sound outside . In a daze, he was invited by the County Magistrate Cheng to enjoy with people . When they came out, there were huge crowds of people on the street, the county was illuminated by countless lanterns and it was as brightly lit as in daylight .
The firecrackers of 200,000 were divided into several parts, which was set off every once in a while, making the county noisier . Besides, people were amazed by several groups of lion dancers and a variety of jugglers from time to time .
However, Chen Yong and others following him had no interest in participating in this joy at all . Surrounded by various sounds, they only had a splitting headache . But they had no choice but persist . Being blown by the cold wind, they felt their stomachs twisted, retching several times . Both their noses and eyes were uncomfortable .
"Your Excellency, look! This place where the auspicious sign occurred is busier than usual, isn’t it?" County Magistrate Cheng looked at them, knowing that they were reluctant . Even so, he did not intend to let them go, continuing to talk with them to consume their energy .
Chen Yong gave a reluctant smile . “What County Magistrate Cheng said is indeed right . Thanks to the effective governance of our emperor, our people could have such a happy life . County Magistrate Cheng has done a lot of things . ”
“You flatter me . It’s what I should do to administer the place and let people here live in peace . Come on! Set off another 50,000 firecrackers,” County Magistrate Cheng modestly said, asking others to set off firecrackers .
The loud sound of firecrackers was around them . And those who drank too much felt that they were about to vomit . At the critical moment, someone handed a cucumber . Holding it, they took a bite in turns, which made them feel better .
But before they felt much better, someone presented wine . Cheng first picked up a bowl, made a deep bow in the direction of the capital where the emperor lived, and said, "Everybody! It’s the infinite royal graciousness that makes our people so happy . I’ll toast the emperor first . ”
After that, he finished the bowl of wine first . Looking at the scene, others had no choice but follow Cheng to drink although they didn’t want to drink . Having finished it, they were trying hard to prevent themselves from vomiting . After all, this bowl of wine was for the emperor . Of course, they couldn’t vomit .
Someone sent the cucumber with some hot sauce to them . Eating some, they finally felt better . Waiting for a while, County Magistrate Cheng raised another bowl of wine, and said, “Everyone! Today is the full moon day . I wish that our people have a family reunion . ”
Then he drank it . Chen Yong and others really hated him at this moment . Later on, they take a deep breath and emptied the bowl, trying not to vomit . Looking at Cheng, they were afraid that he would pick up the wine bowl again . Fortunately, he did not continue to do it this time . Instead, He began to chat with the people .
Having chatted with others for a quarter of an hour, Chen Yong wanted to go in for a rest . Suddenly, a few people from the happy crowds came up to them, some holding bowls and others holding a wine jar . When they got close, an old man with white beard and hair walked out, asking someone to pour wine . Then he held the bowl of wine and said,
“I am just an ordinary people in Sanshui County . Thanks to the governance of you, we can live in peace and happiness . So, let me propose a toast to you on behalf of our people in Sanshui County . ” After that, he emptied the bowl .
Following this old man, Cheng took a bowl of wine and drank it without hesitation . Obviously, Cheng knew this person, so the wine would not be poisonous . Otherwise, Cheng would never drink it . Now that the wine was proposed by the people, they had to drink it . So three bowls of wine had been drunk by them in just a moment .
Now, Cheng thought most of their energy must have been consumed . Then, he proposed returning to the Yamen (the government office in feudal China) to enjoy the moon or have a rest . Chen Yong and others, as if they had been pardoned, turned back . When they arrived at the Yamen, all of them declined to drink and enjoy the moon . Instead, they returned to their own room and fell asleep .
The servant was commanded to burn the incense in everyone's room and close all the windows and doors .
The drunken went to sleep uncomfortably, as if their stomachs were stirred . With the smell of the incense, they couldn't control themselves and began to throw up . Being taken care of, they drank some water after they vomited . They couldn’t stop vomiting even though they had thrown up everything in their stomachs .
Cheng was uncomfortable too . As soon as he came back, he threw up everything . But after vomiting, he did not lie down immediately . Instead, he commanded a servant to prepare a bucket of hot water . And while he was having the bath, he had his head rubbed and drank hot soup . With sweating and passing urine for a few times, he finally felt better .
Then, enjoying a full-body massage, he fell asleep . Besides, there was someone wiping the sweat from his face with warm towels from time to time .
On Lunar January 16th, Cheng woke up at about 10 a . m . He shook his head and didn’t have any headache now . Then he had a little millet congee, some cucumber pickles, and two meat buns . Knowing that Chen Yong and others were not able to wake up at this moment, he went back and slept for an hour . At noon, he commanded servants to prepare the carriage . Then, he woke them personally one by one .
With a terrible hangover and the hunger for such a long time, these people from the state felt that their heads were about to split when they opened their eyes . Having wiped their faces with hot towels, they followed Cheng to the Water-watching Pavilion in a daze .
When they got off the carriage, they found that it was a restaurant . Originally, they didn't want to eat anything . But they were indeed hungry . And it was clear that they would feel worse if they didn’t have breakfast .
When the dishes were put on the table one by one, they found that this was a banquet with 16 different dishes made of chicken . Cheng urged them to drink again . After all, he had been fine . But they didn't want to drink again . Cheng revived, but he didn’t eat too much food . However, they had to drink under this circumstance . When they had the chicken, they found that the chicken was sweet and greasy .
Before they could relieve from the hangover, some of them were drunk again . Then, if someone urged them to drink or eat, they would do as they were asked . Besides, if anyone else drank less, they would urge them too . Like that, they spent four hours having the meal . Except the people and servants from Yamen, all of the others were drunk .
Cheng didn't send them to the Yamen, but put them in the carriage, taking them to the real Luoshui River, where the ice had melted, and a ship was ready .
Sitting in the bumpy carriage, they continued to throw up . They didn’t arrive at the destination until midnight . Then they were put on the ship one by one . And then they spent their night on the ship .
Song Jinggong also followed the queue . He wanted to remember the poem written by his little master, ready to offer another round of entertainment tomorrow .
On Lunar January 20th, with the spring thunder, the first spring rain fell .
“It has been the fifth day . It looks like that Cheng has stalled those people . In a few more days, they would leave, right?” Wang Juan said with relaxation, listening to the sound of falling rain on the window .
"Yes . It’s said that they are drunk every day . Song Jinggong should be famous this time . It’s a good thing . After all, with the reputation, he can work more smoothly in the future . It seems that it’s not a heavy rain . I am afraid that there will be drought .
After the rain stops, we can go out for an inspection in order to find out a place in our village, which is suitable for digging holes and storing more water . This year, in the east of Taihang Mountain and Henan Province, there is full of locusts and drought . If we suffered from them too, we will be in trouble . "
Zhang Xiaobao was still worried that although that was what was written in the history book, who could guarantee that the person writing the book had written down everything . The real thing could be known only if it was experienced personally .
“You are right . Even if there is not drought, it can be kept for growing other plants . I have a map here, which I drew according to their description . But I don’t know whether it's accurate or not . When it's warm, you can walk around the village with me . Then I can draw an accurate map . ”
As Wang Juan spoke, she took out the map, which was originally drawn for arranging the torches . She looked at it and pointed to a place, “How about this place? My house is not far from the river . If we dig a ditch there, we can lead the water over while the snow is melting . ”
Zhang Xiaobao looked at it aside and nodded . He thought this place should have been settled . Only through inspection could he know whether it was appropriate or not .
On Lunar January 25th, it was a fine day, with a balmy spring breeze .
Cheng Lingxiang, the county magistrate, waved his hand to the team gradually fading away until he could not see it . Then he put his hands down, and exhaled a deep breath . Looked back at the people in the Yamen, he smiled, with his body stumbling .
Finally, he completed the task, stalling those people here for ten days, He spent the ten days as long as ten months . Everyday he had to arrange new things for them to enjoy . Only the county magistrate's assistant was left alone in the Yamen to deal with the government affairs .
During the period, Chen Yong and others mentioned that they wanted to go to the village where the auspicious sign occurred for several times . While, they were stalled by Cheng . After all, as soon as they were drunk, all of them forgot this thing . Only Clerical Officer Zhao Xiang made him surprised .
At first, Cheng was worried that Zhao would handle things impartially and take people to inspect the village . However, Cheng didn't expect that Zhao would help him to entertain people when he was drunk on the sixth day . He was such a big drinker . Even if others were drunk, he was still awake . Cheng had never heard that Zhao could drink like so, and had never seen him drink before . As the saying went, a wise head made a close mouth .
“Jifang, thank you! If it’s not you, they will probably go to the village . I really want to know why you would help me?” Although Cheng felt tired, he still asked Zhao Xiang .
Hearing that the county magistrate called his courtesy name, Zhao Xiang frowned uncomfortably . But he didn’t say anything about it . He said, “Your Honor, I also want to eat cucumbers . ”
After saying this, he stopped talking and turned around to go back first . Everyone else was stunned . Zhao Xiang, who had been rigid all the time, should crack a joke today .
Others also went back . Zhao Xiang walked in front of them . He knew why he didn't expose the village to those people . He had a little daughter and two sons . His daughter was five years old, and she was weak . When she was born, she didn’t enjoy good food . Since then, she ate less . Zhao always wanted her to eat more . But the daughter was a picky eater, and there was anything delicious for her to eat in winter . But since there was the cucumber, his daughter ate half a bowl more than usual . This made him grateful to the Zhang Village .
Of course, this was not the only reason . The most important thing was that he worried that if the secret recipe was revealed, there would never be anything new in the future . It was a great loss to Sanshui County . These days, a lot of things had been produced in that place . He wanted to help them .
Chapter end
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